Spring Break Camp with Type 1 Diabetes: Our First Experience as First-Time Campers
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Surviving Spring Break Camp with Type 1 Diabetes: Our First Experience & Essential Checklist
Spring break camp is supposed to be exciting—but when you’re the parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, it can also feel terrifying. Last year, our family decided it was finally time to give our son the chance to enjoy a full spring camp experience. After a family “vote,” we chose a place he already loved: Athletic Play camp.
My son attends and Athletic play class weekly. They call it “athletic play”—I call it kids’ CrossFit! He thrives there, learns so much, and has an absolute blast in his regular classes… but the second the decision was made to enroll him in camp, my heart dropped.
“He always goes LOW during class. How is a full week going to work?”
Like everything with Type 1 Diabetes, the answer was simple:
Preparation + Education + Communication = A Safe Camp Week
I didn’t wait until the week before camp. Instead, I took the slow and steady approach—giving the coaches micro‑lessons each week leading up to spring break.
By the time camp arrived, they already knew:
What a low looks like
What a high looks like
How to treat a low
How to communicate with me
What supplies my son keeps on hand
They were trained without feeling overwhelmed, and without a last-minute crash course.
I also created a daily routine checklist for them (which I’m sharing below as a downloadable PDF!).
This helped outline:
The best-case scenarios
The what-if scenarios
Treatment steps
My contact information
Meal/snack plans
When to check BG
I designated one primary coach to be the communication point. That became her thing, and it worked beautifully.
Here’s what helped us thrive that week:
✔ Packed lunches + permission to eat shared foods
He had his own lunch each day, but he could also participate in camp snacks and activities. All they needed from me was the carb count, and they bolused accordingly.
✔ An on‑site emergency low box
This stayed at the camp all week. It included:
Juice boxes
Gummies
Glucose tabs
Sensor adhesives/removers
✔ Regular communication & BG checks
We didn’t overcomplicate it—just routine checks before and after heavy activity, and quick updates if something looked off.
✔ Building trust with the staff
This is the #1 key. When you trust your child’s caregivers, everything becomes less scary. The coaches were confident, informed, and prepared.
Download the T1D Camp Checklist (Perfect for Spring Break or Summer Camp!)
I created a simple, clear checklist you can print or hand to staff.
👉 Download the PDF here
This includes:
Emergency instructions
Contact info section
Daily BG check reminders
Snack & meal notes
Supply list
High/low treatment steps
Communication plan
Perfect for any spring break, summer camp, or after‑school program.
Sending a child with Type 1 Diabetes to spring break or summer camp can feel overwhelming, but with preparation, teamwork, and open communication, it is possible for them to enjoy the same adventures as any other kid. Our family’s first experience taught us that when parents and camp leaders work together, T1D doesn’t have to be a barrier — it becomes simply another part of the routine. I hope our story and the checklist help you feel more confident as you prepare for your own child’s camp journey. Remember: you’re not alone, your child is capable, and with the right support, camp can be a place where they grow, learn, and shine. If we did it, you can too
